If the road belonged to just one person and that person never met another cyclist, motorist or pedestrian, he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. But as soon as the possibility of crossing, or interacting with another person exists, road etiquette applies.

Keith Hallgren of RBF Cycles is a longtime four-season cyclist. He builds and fixes bikes, teaches courses on winter cycling and, full disclosure, he also built the winter bike of Green Energy Futures editor Duncan Kinney. According to Hallgren there are three keys to being a successful winter cyclist.

This week, two European tourists complained about the Canadian car culture after a brief stint in the 10 million square kilometer nation of over 35-million people. The British and Danish complainers now reside in Aarhus, Denmark. While I support criticizing a country, it is also good to have the facts in order. To that end, here are some stats Chabowski should have taken into account before making rush judgments on Canadian society.

Not to oversell it, but the electric bike might be the single best urban transportation option out there. An electric bike is almost Goldilocksian in how it fits into the urban fabric. You get to power up that big hill, get some fresh air and dodge traffic all at the same time.

As fewer daylight hours are available many of us are forced to get our runs in before dawn or after dusk. Running in the dark has its challenges, the most important of which is staying visible in low-light conditions. Fortunately, there is a plethora of choices when it comes to reflective gear and apparel.

With the recent launch of Citibike, the world's largest bicycle share program in New York City, cycling as a viable option for city commuting is literally gaining traction. A means of transport around long before the automobile, the bicycle has been in and out of vogue since its 19th century invention as a human-propelled alternative to the horse. This time, however, the attention seems different.

In an economy in which employment is increasingly scarce, Canadian youth need hard and soft skills to create their own opportunities. The Otesha Project, the youth-led non-profit where I work, combines experiential learning and bicycle tours to foster personal and professional development.

Ever since the 1950s the car has been the accidental architect of our cities. Billions of dollars have been dedicated to roads, overpasses, tunnels and other car infrastructure. Enter the bicycle. It is the most efficient form of transportation on the planet.

If you've been driving along the country roads of Canada this summer, you've surely noticed the growing popularity of cycling. Another growing trend is cycling for a good cause with more and more charity cycling events popping up across the country. The Ride for Karen, which is an annual cycling event that my brother and I started as a tribute to the life and legacy of our mother Karen, is just one example.

I returned to Montréal 20 pounds heavier, determined to ignore the siren's song of squeaky cheese, mustard slathered rye bread and Métro trains. Seeing Montréal in the spring, summer or fall by bus, train or even foot is a travesty. To explore the city like a local, a bicycle is the only way to roll.

The Fords understand that happy cars and happy drivers make for a happy city. And while there are any number of things that can contribute to the unhappiness of a car and its driver -- high gas prices, tree sap, bicycles -- the pedestrian is right there at the top of the list.